Man who misused company credit card sentenced to 240 days in jail

A Reddick man accused of misusing a company credit card at gas stations has been sentenced to serve a 240-day term in the Marion County Jail for organized fraud.

By April WarrenStaff writer

A Reddick man accused of misusing a company credit card at gas stations has been sentenced to serve a 240-day term in the Marion County Jail for organized fraud.

Anthony David Rodriguez, 41, accepted a plea agreement from the State Attorney's Office on Tuesday and pleaded guilty to the charge. He will receive a 63-day credit for time served pending resolution of the case.

After being released from jail, he will be placed on house arrest for two years and must complete 70 hours of community service.

Rodriguez was originally charged with 16 third-degree felony counts that included grand theft and fraudulent use of a credit card.

The State Attorney's Office decided to consolidate the charges into one third-degree felony count of organized fraud.

Rodriguez was arrested on May 29 by the Marion County Sheriff's Office after deputies spoke with the owner of Hercules Fencing Co. on Southeast Maricamp Road. The owner said he had recently hired Rodriguez and believed the defendant took the fleet gas credit card assigned to his work truck and used it over a weekend for personal use without permission, racking up $1,176.20 in charges, according to a sheriff's report.

The card was used 17 times over a five-day period at various gas stations in Marion and Lake counties. Store video surveillance showed Rodriguez using the card.

An investigation revealed Rodriguez purchased gas with the credit card for other motorists and then had them pay him a reduced price in cash, which he pocketed.

In an interview after he had been advised of his rights, Rodriguez admitted to using the card without authorization and said he would sell a tank of gas for about $40.